Contextual Web Accessibility - Maximizing the Benefit of Accessibility Guidelines

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    Contextual Web Accessibility - Maximizing the Benefit of Accessibility Guidelines - Presentation Transcript

    1. Contextual Web Accessibility - Maximizing the Benefit of Accessibility Guidelines Brian Kelly UKOLN University of Bath Bath, UK UKOLN is supported by: dmag (Digital Media Access Group) is hosted by the University of Dundee Co-Authors: Andy Heath, Helen Petrie, Fraser Hamilton & Lawrie Phipps David Sloan DMAG University of Dundee Dundee, UK http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/conferences/w4a-2006/ This work is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 licence (but note caveat)
    2. W4A 2005: Reprise
      • At W4A 2005 we presented “ Forcing Standardization or Accommodating Diversity… ”:
        • The practical difficulties of using a “standard” to encapsulate design requirements to accommodate a diverse set of needs under a diverse set of circumstances
        • The achievements and limitations of WCAG in supporting this
        • The resultant difficulties (and absurdities) from legislation and policy – that makes inappropriate reference to WCAG
        • Using the example of the e-learning sector we pointed the way to a more holistic view of Web accessibility
      • We received many positive comments on the ideas we presented
    3. One Year On – Where are We?
        • WCAG 2.0 is ever closer
        • The “baseline” concept introduced with WCAG 2.0 is an excellent development
        • But – are we still trying to promote a “universally accessible Web” at the expense of “optimally accessible information, communication, education, entertainment, services…”?
    4. Limitations of the WAI Model
        • WAI model relies on conformant Web sites, conformant authoring tools, conformant user agents
        • … and conformant users!
        • A common complaint of “standardistas” – “ the user needs to take responsibility… ”
        • There is value in this argument – but there are practical shortcomings
        • And user technophobia/laziness/lethargy is only one obstacle
          • How many users know they are “disabled”?
    5. The Importance of Context
        • We argue Web accessibility is about supporting users achieve real world goals
        • From Beyer & Holzblatt (1998) – the more you know about your target audience the more you can design to support them
        • So the goal of “universal accessibility” has changed to supporting a defined set of users in the best possible way…
        • How can we use WCAG to achieve this?
      DS  BK
    6. The Challenges
      • To summarise:
        • WAI has been a great political success
        • The underlying principles are widely accepted
      • However
        • The WAI model has its limitations
        • Accessibility of digital resources can be provided in a variety of ways
        • Blended approaches may be relevant in some areas
        • Other areas may have differing views and definitions of "accessibility" and disability (cf IMS AccessForAll)
      • The challenges:
        • Do we ignore such complexities?
        • Do we abandon the WAI approach and look for alternatives?
        • Do we look for an approach which can leverage WAI's successes whilst allowing for a diversity of solutions?
    7. Holistic Approach
      • Kelly, Phipps & Swift developed a blended approach to e-learning accessibility
      • This approach:
        • Focusses on the needs of the learner
        • Requires accessible learning outcomes , not necessarily e-learning resources
      Follow-up work awarded prize for Best Research Paper at ALT-C 2005 E-learning conference This approach reflects emphasis in UK on blended learning (rather than e-learning)
    8. Accessibility in Context
      • A framework has been developed which places accessibility & usability within a wider context:
        • The context
        • A range of policies
        • A compliance regime
      Purpose Sector Funding Resources Context Accessibility/Usability Privacy Policies … Finance External Self-assessment Penalties Learning Compliance Digital Library Programme Broken Standards Research … External factors: Institutional issues (funds, expertise, policies, security…) External factors: Legal issues; cultural factors; … This approach embraces relativism and context rather than the current absolute approach Accessibility guidelines should be usable in wider context
    9. Articulating the Approach
      • The "Tangram Metaphor" developed to avoid checklist / automated approach:
        • W3C model has limitations
        • Jigsaw model implies single solution
        • Tangram model seeks to avoid such problems
      • This approach:
        • Encourages developers to think about a diversity of solutions
        • Focus on 'pleasure' it provides to user
    10. Tangram Model
      • Model allows us to:
        • Focuses on end solution rather than individual components
        • Provided solutions tailored for end user
        • Doesn't limit scope (can you do better than WAI AAA?)
        • Make use of automated checking – but ensures emphasis is on user satisfaction
      • Guidelines/standards for/from:
        • WAI
        • Usability
        • Organisational
        • Dyslexic
        • Learning difficulties
        • Legal
        • Management (resources, …)
        • Interoperability
        • Accessibility metadata
        • Mobile Web
    11. Tangram Model & Testability
      • "WCAG 2.0 success criteria are written as testable statements …" (nb. automated & human testing  )
      • Issues:
        • What about WCAG principles that don't have defined success criteria (e.g. "content must be understandable")?
        • What about 'baselines' – context only known locally
        • What about differing models or / definitions of 'accessibility'?
      • Note vendors of accessibility testing services will market WCAG tools e.g. see posting on BSI PAS 78
      • Tangram model can be used within WCAG
        • Distinguish between testable (ALT tags) and subjective (content understandable)
        • Supports baselines
      Baseline 1 Testable
    12. The Cathedral & The Bazaar
      • WAI Approach:
        • Large-scale and ambitious –but slow-moving
        • External dependencies (e.g. on legal systems)
        • Based on single approach ("you must …")
        • Web-centric approach
        • Cathedral approach to development
      • Holistic Approach:
        • Modular & can be more rapid-moving & responsive
        • Based on diversity of approaches - "seek to …"
        • Covers Web, other IT and real-world accessibility
        • Bazaar approach to development
        • " I don't claim people should do 100% of what I say “ J Neilson
      WCAG 2.0’s ‘baseline’ seems to recognise a contextual view 
    13. The Legal Framework
      • This approach is well-suited for the UK legal framework:
      • SENDA/DDA legislation requires " organisations to take reasonable measures to ensure people with disabilities are not discriminated against unfairly "
      • Note that the legislation is:
        • Technologically neutral
        • Backwards and forwards compatible
        • Avoids version control complexities
      • The legislation also covers usability, as well as accessibility
    14. Conclusions
      • To conclude:
        • WAI has provided a valuable starting point
        • Need to develop a richer underlying model
        • Need for Web accessibility to be placed in wider content
        • Contextual approach & tangram metaphor aim to help inform such developments
        • Should the WAI approach be more open about contextualisation or should this be applied externally?
        • There's a need to an evidence-based approach and less ideology
    15. Questions
      • Questions are welcome
      Note resources cited in the talk are bookmarked in del.icio.us using tag '' w4a-2006-sloan-kelly "

    + Brian KellyBrian Kelly, 4 years ago

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